Advance: Coding for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

The different facets of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are steadily gaining more recognition, as noted in an article recently published in Advance for Health Information Professionals. Wendy M. Gorrie, CPC, RHIT, CCS, explains some of the expected benefits offered through these types of treatments and points out that they’re gaining traction with entities such as the Veteran’s Administration and the National Institutes of Health. She indicates that there are currently upwards of 4,500 medical codes describing treatments using homeopathy, massage therapy, naturopathy, ayurvedic medicine, etc.

“The National Library of Medicine Unified Medical Language System has accepted these codes to be utilized by all providers working with payers in an electronic environment,” she says. “Advance beneficiary approval and code preference advice obtained from the payer is recommended before treatment is given to ensure reimbursement.”